Municipalities of Iceland
Second-level administrative subdivision of Iceland
The municipalities of Iceland (Icelandic : Sveitarfélög [ˈsveiːtarˌfjɛːˌlœːx] ) are local administrative areas in Iceland that provide a number of services to their inhabitants such as kindergartens , elementary schools , waste management , social services , public housing , public transportation , services to senior citizens and disabled people. They also govern zoning and can voluntarily take on additional functions if they have the budget for it. The autonomy of municipalities over their own matters is guaranteed by the Icelandic constitution .
History
The origin of the municipalities can be traced back to the commonwealth period in the 10th century when rural communities were organized into communes (hreppar [r̥ɛhpar̥] ) with the main purpose of providing help for the poorest individuals in society. When urbanization began in Iceland during the 18th and 19th centuries, several independent townships (kaupstaðir [ˈkʰœypˌstaːðɪr̥] ) were created. The role of municipalities was further formalized during the 20th century and by the end of the century there was no longer any official distinction between urban and rural municipalities.
The trend in recent years has been to transfer more functions and power from the state to the municipalities. This has called for larger municipalities. The government encourages municipalities to merge but has taken a different approach to the issue than governments in other Nordic countries where forced amalgamation is regularly carried out (such as the municipal reform in Denmark that took effect in 2007). Instead, the process is voluntary. Municipalities negotiate possible mergers among themselves, and any merger must first receive approval from the relevant municipality's constituent voting electorate in a referendum. A similar approach is used by the Faroese government. However, municipalities having a population of below 50 may be forced to merge.
The number of municipalities peaked in the mid-20th century. There were 229 of them in 1950.[1] By 1995, their number had been reduced to 170. In the year 2000, only 124 municipalities remained in Iceland, and since 2022 there are 64.
Government
The municipalities are governed by municipal councils which are directly elected every four years. Municipal elections were last held on 14 May 2022. The sizes of these councils vary from five members in the smallest municipalities to fifteen in the largest one. Most municipalities except for the very small ones hire an executive manager who may or may not be a member of the municipal council. These managers are usually referred to as mayors (bæjarstjóri [ˈpaiːjarˌstjouːrɪ] or borgarstjóri [ˈpɔrkarˌstjouːrɪ] ) in the mostly urban municipalities but "municipal manager" (sveitarstjóri [ˈsveiːtarˌstjouːrɪ] ) in the rural or mixed municipalities. It is common for these executive managers to be professionally hired and politically independent .
List of municipalities
Vernacular name
Official name
Region
Population[2] (2021 Census)
Area (km2 )
LAU code
Mayor (Party )
Reykjavík
Reykjavíkurborg
Höfuðborgarsvæðið
129,886
274.19
0000
Dagur Bergþóruson Eggertsson (S )
Kópavogur
Kópavogsbær
Höfuðborgarsvæðið
37,366
79.99
1000
Ármann Kristinn Ólafsson (D )
Seltjarnarnes
Seltjarnarnesbær
Höfuðborgarsvæðið
4,567
2.11
1100
Ásgerður Halldórsdóttir (D )
Garðabær
Höfuðborgarsvæðið
17,224
75.46
1300
Gunnar Einarsson (D )
Hafnarfjörður
Hafnarfjarðarkaupstaður
Höfuðborgarsvæðið
29,000
144.07
1400
Haraldur L. Haraldsson (Ind.)
Mosfellsbær
Höfuðborgarsvæðið
12,340
186.16
1604
Haraldur Sverrisson (D )
Kjósarhreppur
Höfuðborgarsvæðið
274
284.08
1606
Guðný Guðrún Ívarsdóttir (Ind.)
Reykjanesbær
Suðurnes
18,847
144.48
2000
Kjartan Már Kjartansson (Ind.)
Grindavíkurbær
Suðurnes
3,445
423.46
2300
Róbert Ragnarsson (Ind.)
Suðurnesjabær
Suðurnes
3,533
82.46
2505
Magnús Stefánsson (Ind.)
Vogar
Sveitarfélagið Vogar
Suðurnes
1,288
164.4
2506
Ásgeir Eiríksson (Ind.)
Akranes
Akraneskaupstaður
Vesturland
7,496
8.57
3000
Regína Ásvaldsdóttir (Ind.)
Skorradalshreppur
Vesturland
77
215.8
3506
Árni Hjörleifsson (Ind.)
Hvalfjarðarsveit
Vesturland
637
481.06
3511
Björgvin Helgason (Ind.)
Borgarbyggð
Vesturland
3,636
4926.85
3609
Björn Bjarki Þorsteinsson (D )
Grundarfjarðarbær
Vesturland
842
149.08
3709
Eyþór Garðarsson (Ind.)
Eyja- og Miklaholtshreppur
Vesturland
110
383.51
3713
Eggert Kjartansson (Ind.)
Snæfellsbær
Vesturland
1,622
682.04
3714
Kristinn Jónasson (Ind.)
Stykkishólmur
Vesturland
1,233
253.47
3716
Sturla Böðvarsson (D )
Dalabyggð
Vesturland
633
2426.88
3811
Jóhannes Haukur Hauksson (Ind.)
Bolungarvík
Bolungarvíkurkaupstaður
Vestfirðir
929
108.08
4100
Elías Jónatansson (Ind.)
Ísafjarðarbær
Vestfirðir
3,674
2380.55
4200
Arna Lára Jónsdóttir (Ind.)
Reykhólahreppur
Vestfirðir
245
1096.23
4502
Karl Kristjánsson (Ind.)
Tálknafjarðarhreppur
Vestfirðir
252
175.38
4604
Indriði Indriðason (Ind.)
Vesturbyggð
Vestfirðir
1,028
1336.06
4607
Rebekka Hilmarsdóttir (D )
Súðavík
Súðavíkurhreppur
Vestfirðir
189
750.35
4803
Pétur G. Markan (Ind.)
Árneshreppur
Vestfirðir
37
705.41
4901
Eva Sigurbjörnsdóttir (Ind.)
Kaldrananeshreppur
Vestfirðir
109
458.4
4902
Finnur Ólafsson (Ind.)
Strandabyggð
Vestfirðir
416
1833.88
4911
Jón Gísli Jónsson (Ind.)
Húnaþing vestra
Norðurland vestra
1,183
3022.83
5508
Guðný Hrund Karlsdóttir (Ind.)
Skagaströnd
Sveitarfélagið Skagaströnd
Norðurland vestra
460
52.6
5609
Magnús B. Jónsson (Ind.)
Skagabyggð
Norðurland vestra
89
488.59
5611
Vignir Ásmundur Sveinsson (Ind.)
Húnabyggð
Norðurland vestra
1,288
3998.59
5613
Skagafjörður
Norðurland vestra
4,204
5542.46
5716
Ásta Björg Pálmadóttir (Ind.)
Akureyri
Akureyrarbær
Norðurland eystra
18,921
135.55
6000
Ásthildur Sturludóttir (Ind.)
Norðurþing
Norðurland eystra
2,945
3732.78
6100
Kristján Þór Magnússon (Ind.)
Fjallabyggð
Norðurland eystra
1,954
363.83
6250
Gunnar Ingi Birgisson (Ind.)
Dalvíkurbyggð
Norðurland eystra
1,816
597.35
6400
Bjarni Þ. Bjarnason (B )
Eyjafjarðarsveit
Norðurland eystra
1,046
1774.83
6513
Karl Frímannsson (Ind.)
Hörgársveit
Norðurland eystra
619
893.97
6515
Snorri Finnlaugsson (Ind.)
Svalbarðsstrandarhreppur
Norðurland eystra
432
54.39
6601
Eiríkur H. Hauksson (Ind.)
Grýtubakkahreppur
Norðurland eystra
371
431.43
6602
Þröstur Friðfinnsson (Ind.)
Tjörneshreppur
Norðurland eystra
53
198.86
6611
Steinþór Heiðarsson (Ind.)
Þingeyjarsveit
Norðurland eystra
1,231
12019.59
6613
Dagbjört Jónsdóttir (Ind.)
Langanesbyggð
Norðurland eystra
588
2483.16
6710
Elías Pétursson (Ind.)
Fjarðabyggð
Austurland
4,955
1614.45
7300
Páll Björgvin Guðmundsson (Ind.)
Múlaþing
Austurland
4,853
10669.19
7400
Björn Ingimarsson (Ind.)
Vopnafjarðarhreppur
Austurland
635
1903.31
7502
Ólafur Áki Ragnarsson (Ind.)
Fljótsdalshreppur
Austurland
90
1516.3
7505
Gunnþórunn Ingólfsdóttir (Ind.)
Hornafjörður
Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður
Suðurland
2,297
6309.44
7708
Björn Ingi Jónsson (D )
Vestmannaeyjar
Vestmannaeyjabær
Suðurland
4,194
16.14
8000
Elliði Vignisson (D )
Árborg
Sveitarfélagið Árborg
Suðurland
10,258
157.19
8200
Ásta Stefánsdóttir (D )
Mýrdalshreppur
Suðurland
729
749.09
8508
Ásgeir Magnússon (Ind.)
Skaftárhreppur
Suðurland
560
6944.26
8509
Eygló Kristjánsdóttir (Ind.)
Ásahreppur
Suðurland
222
2942.32
8610
Egill Sigurðsson (Ind.)
Rangárþing eystra
Suðurland
1,828
1839.93
8613
Ísólfur Gylfi Pálmason (B )
Rangárþing ytra
Suðurland
1,698
3187.09
8614
Ágúst Sigurðsson (D )
Hrunamannahreppur
Suðurland
781
1375.07
8710
Jón G. Valgeirsson (Ind.)
Hveragerði
Hveragerðisbær
Suðurland
2,723
9.03
8716
Aldís Hafsteinsdóttir (D )
Ölfus
Sveitarfélagið Ölfus
Suðurland
2,277
736.32
8717
Gunnsteinn R. Ómarsson (Ind.)
Grímsnes- og Grafningshreppur
Suðurland
569
899.44
8719
Ingibjörg Harðardóttir (Ind.)
Skeiða- og Gnúpverjahreppur
Suðurland
533
2231.74
8720
Kristófer Tómasson (Ind.)
Bláskógabyggð
Suðurland
1,124
3300
8721
Valtýr Valtýsson (Ind.)
Flóahreppur
Suðurland
661
288.9
8722
Eydís Þ. Indriðadóttir (Ind.)
History
Over the years, the number of municipalities in Iceland changed from 229 in 1953 to 64 in 2022:[3]
14 May 2022 (reduced to 64)
17 February 2020 (reduced to 69)
24 January 2019
7 January 2019
26 May 2018 (reduced to 72)
13 August 2013
1 January 2013 (reduced to 74)
1 January 2012 (reduced to 75)
11 June 2010 (reduced to 76)
1 June 2009 (reduced to 77)
15 July 2008 (reduced to 78)
12 September 2007
8 April 2006 (reduced to 79)
Þórshafnarhreppur and Skeggjastaðahreppur merged to form Langanesbyggð .
11 March 2006 (reduced to 80)
20 February 2006 (reduced to 82)
11 February 2006 (reduced to 83)
Gaulverjabæjarhreppur, Hraungerðishreppur, and Villingaholtshreppur merged to form Flóahreppur .
28 January 2006 (reduced to 85)
21 January 2006 (reduced to 86)
10 January 2006
Vatnsleysustrandarhreppur renamed into Vogar .
8 October 2005 (reduced to 89)
Mjóafjarðarhreppur, Fáskrúðsfjarðarhreppur, and Austurbyggð merged with Fjarðabyggð .
23 April 2005 (reduced to 92)
Borgarfjarðarsveit, Hvítársíðuhreppur, and Kolbeinsstaðahreppur merged with Borgarbyggð .
20 November 2004 (reduced to 95)
Bólstaðarhlíðarhreppur, Sveinsstaðarhreppur, Svínavatnshreppur, and Torfalækjarhreppur merged to form Húnavatnshreppur .
Hvalfjarðarstrandarhreppur, Innri-Akraneshreppur, Leirár- og Melahreppur, and Skilmannahreppur merged to form Hvalfjarðarsveit .
1 November 2004 (reduced to 101)
Austur-Hérað, Fellahreppur, and Norður-Hérað merged to form Fljótsdalshérað .
1 August 2004 (reduced to 103)
17 June 2004
Bessastaðahreppur renamed into Álftanes .
28 January 2004
Gerðahreppur renamed into Garður .
10 May 2003 (reduced to 104)
Stöðvarhreppur and Búðahreppur merged to form Austurbyggð .
9 June 2002 (reduced to 105)
Kirkjubólshreppur merged with Hólmavíkurhreppur .
16 March 2002 (reduced to 106)
Holta- og Landsveit, Djúpárhreppur, and Rangárvallahreppur merged to form Rangárþing ytra .
12 March 2002 (reduced to 108)
Húsavíkurkaupstaður and Reykjahreppur merged to form Húsavíkurbær .
11 February 2002 (reduced to 109)
Þingvallahreppur, Laugardalshreppur, and Biskupstungnahreppur merged to form Bláskógabyggð .
21 January 2002 (reduced to 111)
31 December 2001 (reduced to 112)
20 November 2001 (reduced to 113)
Austur-Eyjafjallahreppur, Vestur-Eyjafjallahreppur, Austur-Landeyjahreppur, Vestur-Landeyjahreppur, Fljótshlíðarhreppur, and Hvolhreppur merged to form Rangárþing eystra .
15 November 2001 (reduced to 118)
Hálshreppur, Ljósavatnshreppur, Bárðdælahreppur, and Reykdælahreppur merged to form Þingeyjarsveit .
26 April 2001 (reduced to 121)
1 January 2001 (reduced to 122)
Skriðuhreppur, Öxnadalshreppur, and Glæsibæjarhreppur merged to form Hörgárbyggð .
7 June 1998 (reduced to 124)
Kjalarneshreppur merged with Reykjavíkurborg .
Skriðdalshreppur, Vallahreppur, Egilsstaðabær, Eiðahreppur, and Hjaltastaðarhreppur merged to form Austur-Hérað .
Dalvíkurkaupstaður, Svarfaðardalshreppur, and Árskógshreppur merged to form Dalvíkurbyggð .
Neskaupstaður , Eskifjarðarkaupstaður and Reyðarfjarðarhreppur merged to form Fjarðabyggð .
Staðarhreppur, Fremri Torfustaðahreppur, Ytri Torfustaðahreppur, Hvammstangahreppur, Kirkjuhvammshreppur, Þverárhreppur, and Þorkelshólshreppur merged to form Húnaþing vestra .
Selfosskaupstaður, Stokkseyrarhreppur, Eyrarbakkahreppur, and Sandvíkurhreppur merged to form Árborg .
Lundarreykjardalshreppur, Reykholtsdalshreppur, Hálsahreppur, and Andakílshreppur merged to form Borgarfjarðarsveit .
6 June 1998 (reduced to 145)
Sauðárkrókskaupstaður, Skefilsstaðahreppur, Skarðshreppur, Staðarhreppur, Seyluhreppur, Lýtingsstaðahreppur, Rípurhreppur, Viðvíkurhreppur, Hólahreppur, Hofshreppur, and Fljótahreppur merged to form Skagafjörður .
Bæjarhreppur, Borgarhafnarhreppur, Hofshreppur, and Hornafjarðarbær merged to form Hornafjörður .
1 June 1998 (reduced to 155)
14 February 1998 (reduced to 158)
Þverárhlíðarhreppur, Borgarhreppur, and Álftaneshreppur merged with Borgarbyggð .
1 January 1998 (reduced to 161)
27 December 1997 (reduced to 163)
Hlíðarhreppur, Jökuldalshreppur, and Tunguhreppur merged to form Norður-Hérað .
1 June 1996 (reduced to 165)
Ísafjarðarkaupstaður, Þingeyrarhreppur, Mýrahreppur, Mosvallahreppur, Flateyrarhreppur, and Suðureyrarhreppur merged to form Ísafjarðarbær .
19 April 1995 (increased to 170)
1 January 1995 (reduced to 169)
12 June 1994 (reduced to 171)
Höfn, Nesjahreppur, and Mýrahreppur merged to form Hornafjarðarbær .
11 June 1994 (reduced to 173)
Suðurdalahreppur, Haukadalshreppur, Laxárdalshreppur, Hvammshreppur, Fellsstrandarhreppur, and Skarðshreppur merged to form Dalabyggð .
Staðarsveit, Breiðuvíkurhreppur, Neshreppur utan Ennis, and Ólafsvíkurbær merged to form Snæfellsbær .
Hafnahreppur, Keflavíkurbær, and Njarðvíkurbær merged to form Reykjanesbær .
Norðfjarðarhreppur merged with Neskaupstaður .
Barðastrandarhreppur, Rauðasandshreppur, Patrekshreppur, and Bíldudalshreppur merged to form Vesturbyggð .
Sauðaneshreppur merged with Þórshafnarhreppur .
Norðurárdalshreppur, Stafholtstungnahreppur, Borgarnesbær, and Hraunhreppur merged to form Borgarbyggð .
Eyjarhreppur and Miklaholtshreppur merged to form Eyja- og Miklaholtshreppur .
Nauteyrarhreppur í Norður-Ísafjarðarsýslu and Hólmavíkurhreppur í Strandasýslu merged to form Hólmavíkurhreppur .
Snæfjallahreppur í Norður-Ísafjarðarsýslu merged with Ísafjarðarkaupstaður .
Helgafellssveit merged with Stykkishólmur .
1 January 1994 (reduced to 195)
Fjallahreppur merged with Öxarfjarðarhreppur .
1 July 1993 (reduced to 196)
Landmannahreppur and Holtahreppur merged to form Holta- og Landsveit .
1 October 1992 (reduced to 197)
Beruneshreppur, Búlandshreppur, and Geithellnahreppur merged to form Djúpavogshreppur .
1 January 1992 (reduced to 199)
Hörðudalshreppur merged with Miðdalahreppur to form Suðurdalahreppur .
Fellshreppur í Strandasýslu merged with Óspakseyrarhreppur to form Broddaneshreppur .
17 February 1991 (reduced to 201)
Presthólahreppur merged with Öxarfjarðarhreppur .
1 January 1991 (reduced to 202)
Hrafnagilshreppur, Saurbæjarhreppur, and Öngulsstaðahreppur merged to form Eyjafjarðarsveit .
10 June 1990 (reduced to 204)
Hofsóshreppur and Fellshreppur merged with Hofshreppur .
Hörglandshreppur, Kirkjubæjarhreppur, Skaftártunguhreppur, Leiðvallahreppur, and Álftavershreppur merged to form Skaftárhreppur .
1 April 1990 (reduced to 210)
Fróðárhreppur merged with Ólafsvíkurkaupstaður .
Auðkúluhreppur merged with Þingeyrarhreppur .
Seyðisfjarðarhreppur merged with Seyðisfjarðarkaupstaður .
1 January 1989 (reduced to 213)
1 April 1988 (reduced to 214)
Haganeshreppur merged with Holtshreppur to form Fljótahreppur .
1 January 1988 (reduced to 215)
Helgustaðahreppur merged with Eskifjarðarkaupstaður .
4 July 1987 (reduced to 216)
Geiradalshreppur, Gufudalshreppur, Múlahreppur, and Flateyjarhreppur merged with Reykhólahreppur .
1 July 1987 (reduced to 220)
Ketildalahreppur merged with Suðurfjarðarhreppur to form Bíldudalshreppur .
1 January 1987 (reduced to 221)
Hrófbergshreppur merged with Hólmavíkurhreppur .
30 July 1986 (reduced to 222)
Klofningshreppur merged with Fellsstrandarhreppur .
1984 (reduced to 223)
1972 (reduced to 224)
1971 (reduced to 226)
Eyrarhreppur merged with Ísafjarðarkaupstaður .
1 January 1964 (reduced to 227)
Grunnavíkurhreppur merged with Snæfjallahreppur .
1953 (229 municipalities reduced to 228)
Sléttuhreppur is deserted and included in Ísafjarðarkaupstaður , but not officially merged until 1995.
See also
References
External links